Wiring system.



H. R. SARGENT. WIRING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED M614. 1914.

Patented June 25, 1918.

t u w l trqwo a t e .L #WR A d S w w w HOWARD R. SARGENT,

OF SCHENEOTADY, NEW YORK ASSlZG-NOR, T0 GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

WIRING SYSTEM.

menses.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 25, 1911i.

Application filed August 24, 1914. Serial No. 858,199.

To all whom it may concern:

.Be it known that I, HOWARD R ISARGENT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Schenectady, county of Schenectady, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wiring Systerms, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to wiring systems, and more particularly to fittings suitable for use with house wiring comprising one or more circuit wires inclosed in a metallic sheath which may or may not form part of the circuit, but whose continuity as a conductor should in either case usually be maintained. Such sheath Wiring is often used in tenements, summer cottages, and other places where all considerations, except safety, are subordinated to simplicity and cheapness. It is my aim to provide for all the practical requirements of a complete system of wiring (such as transition from ordinary wiring to sheath wiring and vice versa; connection of devices such as sockets, rosettes, plug receptacles, and switches; and

all other circuit connections or divisions) by means of a minimum number of fittings Y which can be made simple and rugged in construction, cheap to manufacture, easy, quick, and inexpensive to install,'and durable, neat, and convenient in service.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic view illustrating the application of my invention in connection with wiring in which a single insulated conductor is inclosed in a'cylindrical metallic sheath, this particular type of sheath wiring being hereinafter distinguished by the term concentric; Fig. 2 is anenlarged view of a fitting which in Fig. l is used in passing from anordinary three wire system to the concentric wiring, the fitting being here slightly tilted and its cover being also shown in a tilted position;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged tilted view of a fitting which in Fig. 1 is used as a sort of subbase for the mounting and electrical connection of a lamp socket, rosette, etc.; Fig. 4 is a tilted view of the plug receptacle shown in Fig. 1 and the special fitting there shown for mounting and connecting it on the subbase of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a similar view of the lamp socket shown in Fig. and a corresponding special fitting; Fig. 6 is a plan view of a fitting which in Fig. I is used as a special sub-base for the mounting and electrical connection of a switch; Fig. 7 is a plan view of a fitting which may be used in passing from an ordinary two-wire sys tem to concentric wiring; Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 1 illustrating the application of the invention in connection with wiring in which two insulated conductors are inclosed side by side in a metallic sheath having a cross-section much like the figure F, this type of sheath wiring-being hereinafter distinguished by the term twin; Fig. 9 is an enlarged tilted view of one of the fittings shown in Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a tilted view of a twin wire sub-base fitting that corresponds to the concentric subrbase shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 11 is a plan view of a special junction fitting adapted for use in connection with the twin wire sub-base of Fig. 10 when the latter is employed for the mounting of a wall-switch; Fig. 12 is a plan view of a twin wire fitting corresponding to the concentric wiring fitting shown in Fig. 7

Referring first to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the service connection wiring to and through the meter 1 is on the three-wire system, and includes an entrance switch 2 of any suitable type. Beyond the entrance switch 2 the wires 3, 3 and' l are connected to a transition fitting 5, (see also Fig. 2). As shown, both sides of the three-wire circuit are used, a single concentric wire circuit 6 being derived from each side. Regarding only the right-r hand circuit 6 (since the left-hand one presently passes beyond the limits of the drawing), it will be seen that at its junction fitting 7 it is divided and issues in two branches 8 and 9. Inthe branch circuit 8 is a sort of sub-base fitting 10 (see Fig. 3) at which the circuit may be further divided or tapped by the mounting and connection thereon of any device desired, but which is shown without any such device in order that its interior may be exposed to view- Beyond the open sub-base 10; and beyond this switch 14 and controlled by it is a commercial type of socket 15 attached by means of a special fitting 16 (see Fig. 5) to an ordinary sub-base 10. It will be seen that each of the fittings 5,7, 10 comprises an insulating body or-base of porcelain, bisque, or other suitable material to which is secured a metal strip hav conductor.

, tings and devices on it.

From Figs. 1 and 2 it will be seen that in the transition fitting 5 the ends of the metal strip 17 (which is fastened to the base by a screw 18) are bent so that with correspondingly bent metal straps 19 secured to them by screws they form screw clamps that grip the sheath wires 6, 6 securely and make good electrical connections to their sheaths. The central or neutral supply conductor 4 is also connected to the strip 17 by means of a binding screw 20; and the strip 17 or the sheath conductors 6 may also be directly grounded at various points to insure their being always at zero potential. The center wires of the concentric conductors 6 are connected by binding screws 21 to metal pieces 22 which are secured to the insulating base oy screws 23, and the pieces 22 are shown as provided with separate binding screws 24 for the connection of the supply wires 3, 3. A recessed cover 25 of the same material as the base is provided, and may be secured in place along with the base by screws extending through them both. This cover has appropriate openings in its opposite edges for the supply wires 3, 3 and 4 and for the sheath wires 6, 6.

The clamp strip 26 of the junction fitting 7 is bent so that its end screw clamps 27 for the sheath conductors 6 and 9 are at opposite ends of its body or base, and it has an intermediate screw clamp 28 at one side of its base for the sheath conductor 8. The center Wires of the sheath conductors 6, 8 and 9 are connected by separate binding screws .cessed and that the electrical parts lie entirely below its top surface so asnot to interfere with the mounting of the various fit- Its curved clamp strip 20 and its metal piece 31 for the connection of the center wires are joggled upward in the middle over appropriate porto the lamp socket 15.

tions of the insulating material and are provided with screw threaded holes 32, 32 and 33, 33 for the connection of the branch circuit of the device mounted on the fitting.

From Fig. 4 it will be seen that the plu receptacle 11 has on its bottom the usua spring contact strips 35, 35 and that the special fitting 12 has contact pieces 36, 36 that differ from those ordinarily used principally in not having binding screws, but more unthreaded holes coincident with holes in the insulating body or base of the fitting. Screws 37, 37 extending loosely through the contact pieces 36, 36 are intended to be threaded into the holes 32, 32 in the electrical parts 30 and 31 of the sub-base 10 to secure the fitting 12 thereto and connect the contact pieces 36, 36 in circuit. The device 11 is secured to the fitting 12 by means of a screw 38 which engages in an internally threaded sleeve 39 secured in the latter.

As regards the socket 15 and the special fitting 16 shown in Fig. 5, it will be seen that the latter has strips 40 and 41 through which screws 42 and 43 extend, these screws engaging in the screw holes 32, 32 of the electrical parts 30 and 31 of the sub-base 10. The socket 15 is secured to the fitting 16 by screws, 44, 45 that engage in a threaded hole in the metal strip 40 and in a threaded hole in a dead piece 46 itself screwed to the fitting 16. The screws 42 and 44 and the piece 40' form one electrical circuit connection between the socket and the sub-base 10, the circuit being completed or broken through the screw 43- and the piece 41 by engagement and disengagement of the switch contact 47 with said strip 41.

The rosette 12 is connected and secured by means of screws that extend through its base and engage in the holes 32 of the metal parts 30 and 31 of the sub-base 10.

Referring to Fig. 6, it will be seen that the body of the special sub-base 14 has a single opening that in the arrangement shown in Fig. 1 receives both the concentric conductor of the circuit 9 and that leading The sheaths of these conductors are held side by side and electrically connected together in a common screw clamp 48, and their center wires are connected by binding screws to metal terminal pieces 49, 49 mounted and arranged very much like the piece 31 in the ordinary sub-base 10 of Fig. 3. It will be apparent that when the switch 13 is mounted on this special sub-base 14 and connected between its terminal pieces 49, 49 by screws engaged in their holes, it will control the circuit to the socket 15 in the usual way.

As for the two-wire transition fitting 50 shown in Fig. 7 it will be seen that it differs from the fitting 5 principally in that one supply wire 51 is connected directly to the clamp strip 52, and that provision is till the twin wire conductors 57, 57 are secured,

and connected is not connected to the threewire neutral 58, but that instead the latter is connected to a metal part 59 (like the part 29 of the concentric wire fitting 7) to which two of the inner Wires of 'the sheath conductors are connected. The clamps of the strip 56 d'ider slightly from those of the concentric fittings, owing .to the diderent shape of the twin wire sheathed conductor. It will be understood that for the sake of precaution the sheaths of the twin wire conductors may be grounded. I

From Figs. 8 and 9 it will be seen that the body or base of the junction fitting 70 has a raised center portion which carries one metal part 71 similar to the part 29. of the fitting 7, and that through and around this raised portion are cut channels 72 and 73 to enable the inner wire connections to this and another similar metal part 74 to be made without risk of short circuit. From Figs. 8 and 10 it will be seen that in the twin wire sub-base 80 the clamp strip8l which maintains the continuity oi the sheath conductors extends straight across the bottom of the recess, and that at either side of this clamp strip there is a metal part 82 very similar to the part 31 of the sub-base 10. These parts 82 serve for the connection of the inner wires and of the circuits of the devices 11, 12, 15, etc, that may be mounted on the sub-base, much as do the parts and 31 of the sub-base 10.

connects the sheaths of the three twin wire conductors 92, 93 and 94 which serve respectively for the supply circuit, the connect on 94!: are connected to these parts by their binding screws in such a way that the switch connected between the wires of the twin conductor 93 completes or interrupts the clrcuit from those of the twin conductor 92 to those of the twin conductor 94.

Coming now, to the twin wire transition part 105 shown in Fig. 12, it will be seen that it difiers from the three wire transition part shown in Fig. 8 in that there'is no part corresponding tothe part 59 and that only one twin wire circuit is derived. Obviously, however, only a multiplication of clamps and binding screws would be neces sar to allow as many twin wire circuits as desired to be formed.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent ofthe United States, is

1. A fitting for use in a metal sheath wiring light or power circuit comprising an insulating base, a metal strip part secured to said base having at its ends screw clamps for holding and making electrical connection to the sheaths of two pieces of such wiring, and another metalpart secured to said base having bidding means for the connection of conductors within the sheaths of the pieces of wiring aforesaid, said parts also having means for securing another fitting to that aforesaid and making connection to its electrical parts.

2. A fitting for use in a metal sheath wiring light or power circuit comprising an insulating base, a metal strip secured to said base having a screw clamp for holding the sheath of such wiring, and other metal parts I secured tosaid base having binding means for the connection of conductors within the sheath of such wiring, said latter parts also having means for securing another fitting to that aforesaid and making connection to its T electrical parts.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 21st day of August, 1914:. HOWARD R. SARGENT.

Witnesses:

'-BENJAMIN B. HULL,

ltiharnu Onronn. 

